ATLAS TRANSLATES

The day they went to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get their marriage certificate, Pingcheng had already entered winter. Chen Yi drove over early in the morning, took a number, and sat in the waiting area of the hall, occasionally looking up at the entrance.

The main entrance faced a bustling street with endless streams of people coming and going.

It was a weekday, and not a particularly auspicious holiday, so there weren’t many people in the hall. When Ruan Mian entered, her disheveled appearance and slightly stern expression made it seem more like she was here to start trouble rather than get a marriage certificate.

Three couples sitting by the door simultaneously looked up at her, their gazes gossipy and curious, afraid to miss any drama.

Ruan Mian paid no attention to this. Her gaze locked in one direction as she walked straight over. Before she had even fully approached, the person sitting there lifted his head first.

Not long after Chen Yi proposed last summer, Ruan Mian’s work had gotten busy, especially in the past six months. If not for this trip to get their certificate, the two of them probably wouldn’t have had a chance to meet until around the Spring Festival.

Chen Yi stood up and took several small ticket-like papers out of his pocket, stuffing them into her hand. “If you had come any later, the staff issuing the numbers would’ve thought I got left at the altar.”

Ruan Mian suppressed her laughter and straightened out the five number slips, finding the earliest one. She said in surprise, “Why did you come so early? The Civil Affairs Bureau isn’t going to run away. Plus, I told you last night that I wouldn’t be able to come too early today.”

“Oh.”

Chen Yi looked at her and said seriously, “I forgot.”

Ruan Mian: “…”

The marriage registration process wasn’t too complicated. The materials were all ready, and the introduction letter had been approved early on. Ruan Mian and Chen Yi sat by the counter, staring intently as the staff stamped the two red booklets, their subtle eye expressions identical.

Accompanied by two thumps, the staff handed over the stamped marriage certificates to each of them, smiling and offering blessings, “Alright, I wish you eternal unity and growing old together.”

Ruan Mian and Chen Yi simultaneously reached out to take the marriage certificates, also smiling and replying, “Thank you.”

After leaving the Civil Affairs Bureau, Ruan Mian still had to catch a late flight back to B City. Chen Yi didn’t say much and drove her to the airport.

Before parting, he still gave that parental-like reminder of “call me when you get there”.

Ruan Mian guessed he might be a bit dissatisfied with her rushed coming and going, but work was piling up and she had no choice. She could only go over and coax him with sweet words for a while. “Don’t be mad anymore, okay?”

Chen Yi let Ruan Mian hug his arm and act coquettishly for a bit. After a good while, he finally raised his hand to ruffle her hair, his tone carrying obvious doting. “Alright, I’m not mad. Hurry and go in. Remember to rest well over there.”

“Okay.”

Ruan Mian let go and made to leave, but then took advantage of Chen Yi not paying attention to lean over and kiss his cheek, her voice full of joyful laughter, “Happy newlywed life, Mr. Chen.”

By the time Chen Yi reacted, she had already run far away.

He touched his cheek and, a few seconds later, lowered his eyes and chuckled.

Little hooligan.

When Ruan Mian arrived in B City, it was already evening. She called Chen Yi, but his phone was turned off. She reported her safe arrival on WeChat and then hurried back to the hospital.

Fortunately, there were no major incidents in the evening. After finishing her routine work, Ruan Mian got off work on time. When she checked her phone, there was still no message from Chen Yi.

She found it puzzling but didn’t think too much of it and drove home.

Ruan Mian and Chen Yi still lived in the same complex, but had moved from upstairs to downstairs.

The two-bedroom apartment they lived in now was the new marital home Chen Yi had bought last fall.

Neither of them planned to use their parents’ money. They only paid a 30% down payment on the apartment, with the remaining mortgage to be paid jointly by the two of them each month.

The apartment came furnished. Chen Yi tried his best to recreate the layout of the upstairs apartment. With some minor renovations, it also took quite some time.

It wasn’t until this summer that he and Ruan Mian moved in.

On moving day, it was sunny. By evening, there was still quite a bit of muggy summer air, and the setting sun filled the entire apartment.

Ruan Mian sat on the floor folding her and Chen Yi’s clothes. Chen Yi carried two boxes and was organizing her books and thesis materials.

It was hot, so the air conditioning was on, the cool air puffing out. The two of them were each busy with their own tasks, occasionally asking if this was needed or where to put that.

After living there for so long, Chen Yi had also gradually moved over many things. Just folding his clothes took Ruan Mian quite a bit of effort.

The living room went from one box to over a dozen boxes, the space gradually becoming cramped to the point it was difficult to even turn around. Chen Yi finished packing the small miscellaneous items and had just stood up when Ruan Mian also came out of the bedroom carrying the last stack of clothes. The two of them were squeezed in the only remaining aisle, trying to let each other pass, but in the end neither could get through.

Chen Yi found it amusing. He reached out to take the clothes from her arms and asked, “Where should I put these?”

“In the box behind you.”

After saying that, Ruan Mian went to check if she had missed anything, her silhouette occasionally passing in front of Chen Yi.

She always couldn’t remember what she had packed and what she hadn’t, asking again and again. Chen Yi also answered patiently each time.

Around six o’clock, the sun still hadn’t fully set, but its light was increasingly dim, mixed with the impending night.

Tired from cleaning, Ruan Mian collapsed on the bean bag chair.

Chen Yi finished the final touches and looked up to see her lying there with her eyes closed. His heart suddenly softened.

He put down the tape and scissors, poured a glass of water and walked over.

“Sleepy?”

Chen Yi squatted in front of her, his arm resting on his knee, his body leaning slightly forward. The setting sun outlined his undulating silhouette.

“No, just a bit tired.”

Ruan Mian reached out to take the water glass but was instead pulled forward by him gripping her wrist.

She looked up and saw a tiny version of herself reflected in his eyes, the corners of her mouth lifting in a smile. “What is it?”

He didn’t say anything, just lowered his head to kiss the tip of her nose. After nuzzling together for a while, he finally said, “When I go back this time, I’ll put in the application.”

“Huh?”

Ruan Mian didn’t understand. “What application?”

“Marriage application.”

Chen Yi moved back a bit to also sit on the floor, his gaze so tender it made one drown in it. “Let’s get married, okay?”

Ruan Mian’s fingertips twitched as she grasped his hand, their fingers interlocking. She looked at him steadily, focused and resolute. “Okay.”

When Ruan Mian returned home from the hospital, the colorful lights from the tall buildings across the window made the darkness inside seem especially bleak.

She took a shower and went to the kitchen to boil dumplings.

As the water was boiling, Ruan Mian heard the sound of the door opening in the entryway. She froze for a moment, then immediately turned off the stove and walked out.

Seeing the person who had been a hundred kilometers away suddenly standing there like a gift from the heavens, Ruan Mian was truly stunned this time.

Chen Yi also didn’t say anything. Like many times before, he silently changed his shoes, hung up his keys, and slowly walked towards the living room.

Only when he stopped in front of Ruan Mian did he finally can’t help but smile. He leaned down to be face-to-face with her. “Happy newlywed life, Mrs. Chen.”